HVH2O and the Summer of 2020
We’ve been asked many times if HVH2O will be doing lessons on the Peekskill Waterfront this summer. Unfortunately the short answer is “No.”
It’s the usual culprit, Coronavirus. There are the issues of gathering in groups and sharing equipment like PFDs and paddles. There are other paddle organizations that are doing lessons. However HVH2O is holding back this year because we put a high premium on our paddlers’ safety.
HVH2O serves the entire community, and many of our paddlers are first-time paddlers. Many have never been on a paddleboard or kayak before. Some cannot even swim. While we can accommodate all of these concerns, they tend to require a closer person-to-person contact than normal. Typical situations are a person falling off their paddleboard or (less commonly) a capsized kayak. These kinds of situations require close-contact with staff. A capsized kayak typically requires two or more people to manage. This is the kind of close contact that goes against NYS recommendations and puts everyone at risk.
As well, mask use is not appropriate for watersports. When a mask gets wet, it has a limited ability to pass oxygen. As per the CDC guidelines:
People should not wear cloth face coverings while engaged in activities that may cause the cloth face covering to become wet, like when swimming at the beach or pool. A wet cloth face covering may make it difficult to breathe. For activities like swimming, it is particularly important to maintain physical distance from others when in the water. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html)
HVH2O believes that safety on the water is as important as having fun. If that means we need to take a break for 2020, that’s what we need to do. Look out for us in 2021 with new kayaks, a trailer, and more instructors.